Poppers
Poppers are a class of chemicals known as alkyl nitrites, commonly inhaled for recreational purposes, particularly to enhance sexual pleasure. When the vapors are inhaled, users experience effects such as a warm sensation, dizziness, and relaxation. Initially developed in the 19th century for medical use, amyl nitrite, one of its forms, dilates blood vessels and was used to treat angina. Today, poppers are legal in many countries, including the United States, although certain variants like isobutyl nitrite are banned.
Typically marketed under various brand names, poppers are often sold as household products like air fresheners or cleaning solvents. While their effects are generally short-lived and considered less severe than those of many other recreational drugs, users may face risks such as temporary vision problems, headaches, and potential long-term health issues. Accidental ingestion or skin contact can lead to serious medical complications. Additionally, caution is advised when using poppers with other vasodilators due to the risk of dangerously low blood pressure. Overall, poppers have become part of a multimillion-dollar industry, especially popular in the LGBTQ+ community for their perceived enhancement of sexual experiences.
Subject Terms
Poppers
ALSO KNOWN AS: Alkyl nitrite; amyl nitrite; butyl nitrite; cyclohexyl nitrite; isobutyl nitrite; isopropyl nitrite
DEFINITION: Poppers are alkyl nitrites, a class of chemicals that are inhaled for recreational purposes, often to enhance sexual pleasure. The inhalation of popper vapors leads to a warm sensation, dizziness, and a sense of relaxation. Legal and easily available, the more popular brands include Hardware, Locker Room, Quicksilver, and Rush.
STATUS: While alkyl nitrates remain legal in the United States (US) and most countries worldwide, isobutyl nitrate has been banned in the US and European Union
SOURCE: Alykl nitrites do not occur naturally but are chemical compounds. Amyl nitrite, a form of alkyl nitrite, and its isomers feature an unreactive amyl group attached to a functional nitrito group, which generally functions as a source of nitric oxide. In mammals, including humans, nitric oxide causes relaxation of the involuntary muscles.
TRANSMISSION ROUTE: Poppers, in their amyl nitrite form, were originally sold in small, mesh-covered glass ampoules that were crushed to release their vapors. These vapors are inhaled through the nose or mouth. In all forms, poppers are generally liquid nitrites (and generally volatile) that are inhaled.
History of Use
Scottish physician Thomas Lauder Brunton pioneered the use of amyl nitrite in 1867 to treat angina (chest pain); the substance dilates the coronary arteries, making blood flow more freely to the heart. Now manufactured by various companies, amyl nitrite was first sold in glass ampoules, or vials.
Light alkyl nitrites are effective antidotes to cyanide poisoning, and first responders, therefore, carry them. Light alkyl nitrites became available by prescription in 1937 and continued in that form through 1960 when they were made legal without a prescription. In 1969, they were available only with a prescription by the US Food and Drug Administration because of an increase in recreational use and abuse. Following the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, some alkyl nitrites were outlawed in the US. The law, which also established the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, took effect in 1990, but it included exceptions for commercial purposes. Commercial manufacturers simply changed the chemical’s formula and marketed alkyl nitrites as cleaners of carburetors and video player heads.
Amyl nitrite became known as poppers because of the popping sound made when the user crushes the ampoule containing the clear yellowish, unpleasant-smelling liquid to inhale its vapors. Butyl or cyclohexyl nitrite, sold as a video head cleaner (and referred to as rush, locker room, or climax), is often inhaled for a brief high. Isobutyl nitrite, a pungent colorless liquid that acts as a vasodilator, or a chemical that widens capillaries to increase blood flow, is used in the newest versions of poppers. These are sold under brand names such as Locker Room.
Used as a recreational drug for enhancing sexual pleasure, poppers create a sense of euphoria, relaxing smooth muscles like the sphincter muscles and the vagina, and they are believed to cause more intense orgasms if inhaled immediately beforehand. Poppers also cause the smooth muscle surrounding blood vessels to relax, immediately increasing heart rate and blood flow.
The legal status of poppers varies worldwide, and they are often sold as air fresheners, cleaning solvents, and other common consumer products. Part of a multimillion-dollar industry since the 1970s, poppers are readily available online. In the United Kingdom, for example, poppers are sold in sex shops as room odorizers.
Effects and Potential Risks
The effects of poppers on the human body are arguably less severe than those of many other recreational drugs. Although there are no withdrawal symptoms, and the effects are instantaneous and short-lived (minutes), various studies have indicated the possible link between the drug and adverse effects. Accidental swallowing of the liquid can prove fatal (as cyanosis or methemoglobinemia), and if the liquid is spilled on the skin, it may cause serious burns.
The most common severe side effect has to do with vision. Recreational users of poppers can experience temporary vision problems, and heavy long-term use has been linked to worsening glaucoma by causing intraocular pressure. There is also potential for neurological damage. More common effects include headaches, and some men report short-term erectile dysfunction. Rare side effects include asphyxia, arrhythmias, carbon monoxide poisoning, and facial dermatitis. If used while taking prescription vasodilators (such as Viagra), poppers can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack. Finally, poppers may alter immune system function.
Bibliography
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"Ingesting, Inhaling Nitrite 'Poppers' Can Cause Severe Injury or Death." FDA, 15 July 2021, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/ingesting-or-inhaling-nitrite-poppers-can-cause-severe-injury-or-death. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
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